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prospectively; and in consequence of its failure, all parties, Planters, Merchants and Laborers, were left without means to purchase seed and provisions to enable them to cultivate the land this year.  Unless assistance is given to the Planters by the Government, to enable them to put their lands under cultivation, the close of the year 1868 will be marked by greater and more wide spread destitution and suffering than ever prevailed here before.   I would therefore most respectfully and urgently recommend that Provisions be issued by this Bureau to such Planters as will agree to place under cultivation a certain number of acres of land, and to employ a certain number of hands; Taking as Security therefore a lien upon their crops.  In this way I believe the Government would be secure against loss, and will at the same time secure employment to large numbers